Z/Web

Author: Stanislaw Lem (novel)

Director: Steven Soderbergh

I wondered why anyone in Hollywood thought this big budget big star production would make money: after all, this is a Thinking Story, not an action sci-fi flick. The answer is that the screenwriter (Soderbergh) turned this into a Hollywood movie by changing much of what made the story so unusual. “Loosely adapted from the book” is what the film should have had in its credits. Soderbergh even gave it a happy ending! However, this only pisses off fans of the original Russian classic or the novel: people who know nothing about Solaris will find this movie pleasant and entertaining. To us others, beware: it’s not a bad film, just lighter and less important than it should be.

Director: Clint Eastwood

Interesting revenge flick set after the Civil War when Union soldiers were “mopping up” in the South, often killing civilians in the process. Clint plays Josey Wales, who’s family is slaughtered by Union soldiers and then goes on a revenge killing spree. He’s chased all over the South as he heads for Mexico. Along the way he picks up an interesting posse of friends: an old Indian, a elderly woman, a young woman, and more. He ends up in a dying boomtown and helps defend the people, becoming a hero. There’s some great action, hilarious humor, and thoughtful characterization. Good stuff.